The 2025 Formula 1 World Championship will reach a breathtaking climax this weekend under the lights of the Yas Marina Circuit. For the first time in years, the title fight goes down to the final race, with three drivers still in mathematical contention for the ultimate prize.
The Standings and The Stakes
Heading into the season finale, the championship table could not be tighter. Lando Norris leads the pack with 408 points, but his advantage is slender. Just twelve points behind lurks the reigning champion, Max Verstappen, on 396 points. Completing the thrilling trio is Norris's own McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, who sits on 392 points, a mere 16 adrift of the summit.
This sets the stage for a monumental battle in the Middle East, where each driver faces a distinctly different mission to emerge as world champion.
What Each Driver Must Do to Win
The destiny of the title is most firmly in the hands of Lando Norris. The British driver knows that a podium finish will secure his maiden championship, irrespective of where his rivals finish. His task is made even more achievable by the fact that a fourth or fifth-place finish would also be enough, provided Max Verstappen does not win the race.
For Max Verstappen, chasing an incredible fifth consecutive title, the equation is straightforward but demanding. The Red Bull star must win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and rely on Norris finishing fourth or lower. A victory for Verstappen, coupled with a Norris podium, would hand the title to the McLaren man.
Oscar Piastri faces the tallest order as the outsider. The Australian's most realistic path to glory requires a victory on Sunday, coupled with Norris finishing sixth or lower. In this specific scenario, Verstappen's result becomes irrelevant. Piastri could also become champion with a second-place finish, but that would require a disastrous day for his rivals: Norris tenth or lower and Verstappen fourth or lower.
The Tie-Break Scenario
Should two or more drivers finish the season level on points, the championship will be decided by a countback system. The first tie-breaker is the number of race wins. Intriguingly, all three contenders have secured seven victories each this season. If this fails to separate them, the decision would then go to the driver with the most second-place finishes, and so on.
How to Watch the Decider
The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the Formula 1 season, is scheduled to start at 1pm UK time on Sunday, 7th December. Coverage will be live on Sky Sports F1. For those without a subscription, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights from 6pm on the same day. The race can also be streamed via the Sky Go app or through a Now TV membership.
With everything on the line, the stage is set for a truly unforgettable conclusion to one of the most dramatic Formula 1 seasons in recent memory.
